This Chinese joke is not for the faint of heart, and definitely not for kids. This profane language mix-up joke only makes sense if you know which Chinese words have double meanings.

The crux of the joke is that the word sun, 日, and the word “grass”, 草, are pronounced identically to the way two Chinese swear words, both meaning “fuck”, are pronounced. So the phrase “我日” means both “I’m the sun” and also “fuck me!”, while the phrase “我草“ means both “I’m the grass” and (if pronounced the same but spelled differently in writing), “Fuck me!”

This usage of the term “我操” (the profane way to spell 我草) is pure Beijing taxi-driver slang, not an actual invitation to have sex. For example, “Fuck me! That guy almost ran right into us!”

There are a few other swear words with double meanings, so I’m going to do this a little differently than I usually do. I’ll write the Chinese, and in the English translation area, I’ll include the double meanings of words.

Lest you think I’m being crass [only] for crass’s (crasses? Crassnesses?) sake, these swear words are very often used in China, and because they have alternate meanings, it’s hard to figure out what’s going on when you read them.

10 comments to "The Sun Gives the Grass a Call: The F Word. A Lot."

I am a high schoolChinese teacher and this website has been a miracle. But this post really needs to be taken down before I can use it again for obvious reasons. Please understand I am not for censorship, but since many educator might use this website, you should be more sensative to that. Thank you!

Hi Louis, I’m glad the site has been helpful thus far, and I understand your concern.

Do please understand that this is my very own home on the web. I don’t make any money on this, I’ve spent countless hours working on it for my own enjoyment, and I occasionally post swear words. I like swearing *shrug*. It infuses the language with a satisfying emphasis.

While I’m happy to provide my translation work here for others to read and benefit from, I ask you to remember that this is my personal website, it’s not intended to be an educator’s resource (though glad that it can be!) and frankly it won’t suit everyone.

I like this post, it’s about real slang Chinese. It won’t be coming down, and the swearing will, assuredly, continue. If that’s an issue with your students, I recommend you don’t give them the URL. On the other hand, I’m not doing this for fame and fortune – you’re more than welcome to print the translations off my site, delete any mention of where they came from, and use them as exercises in your class if that helps you out. (Teachers: go ahead, I don’t need to be credited or sourced if you’re using these posts for classroom exercises).

I am a Chinese teacher, and I have been trying so hard to find authentic language for my dear students. Your website is the best cure for me and my students. As a teacher and Chinese, thank you for your hard work.

so cool of you to post stuff with swear words and even more cool [idk, is 2013 too late 2use this 90s word that often?!...forgive me if yes] for sticking up and not wanting to take it off the web.

swear words are parts of language that we should accept as such,whats that stupidity of refusing their existance ? to me its like human beings refusing to admit that they poo and pee just b/c its not nice and sweet.

most important of all, swear words really allow natives to pour out/vent out their anger,frustration etc.., like no other words both in and outside of their mothertongue could. so they have their importance…

It’s necessary to recognize the swear words in a language you are learning. However, when I was teaching English, I always told my students not to try swearing in English until they headlined in an English speaking country for many years. Getting swear words wrong is merely comical, and that is the last thing you want when you are trying to swear. I advised them to swear in their own languages. English speaker would know from the intonation that the student was swearing, and probably think that the student was saying something unimaginably strong.